USS Lexington located

[HardDrive]

Pretty cool. The depth seems to have preserved it well. You can still see rifling in the barrel of the 5 inch guns.

USS Lexington discovered by billionaire Paul Allen's crew 76 years after WWII sinking | Fox News

[Scott R]

They should bring that TBD up and preserve it, rare plane.

[varmint]

squint and you can see the squadron insignia on the wildcat.

looks more like a wildcat than an avenger to me.


VF-31

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by varmint

squint and you can see the squadron insignia on the wildcat.

looks more like a wildcat than an avenger to me.


VF-31

Second look, I think you're right.

[rennwagen]

Is that the Felix the Cat squadron insignia (VF-3) near the canopy?

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by rennwagen

Is that the Felix the Cat squadron insignia (VF-3) near the canopy?

yep
But VF-3 was not on the Lexington during the Battle for Coral sea

VF-2 Flying Chiefs were.

The Felix Mascotte was in use by several squadrons in those days, it was only later that VF-3 (the later VF(A)31 took unique ownership of the logo)
Pretty sure that VF-2 sported the Felix logo while on Lex


The "Flying Chiefs" of Fighting Two were almost universally regarded as the "the hottest outfit afloat" for most of their existence. Composed largely of enlisted Naval Aviation Pilots (NAPs), Fighting Two boasted an extremely high order of skill and experience. VF-2B was transferred to the Scouting Fleet in 1932 and was re-designated VF-2S. In 1933, Fighting Two returned to the Battle Fleet and once again became VF-2B. The drill of switching the last letter in a squadron designation was stopped in 1937. Fighting Two finally became simply VF-2. At the time of Pearl Harbor, VF-2 flew F2A Brewster Buffalos and only acquired Grumman F4F Wildcats the following spring. The F2As, though relatively fast, proved unsuitable for sustained carrier operations owing to unacceptably weak landing gear. The squadron's first combat occurred during the two-day Battle of the Coral Sea, the world's first engagement between aircraft carriers. On 7 May 1942, the CO, LCDR Paul Ramsey, led the escort of LEXINGTON's strike against the Japanese light carrier SHOHO. "Ramsey's Lambsies" claimed six confirmed victories and three probables during the mission, including two by Ramsey himself and three by LTJG Paul Baker, a former NAP. The next day, the enemy carriers SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU exchanged air strikes with the U.S. force. LT Noel Gayler's Division lost three planes and pilots on strike escort. In defending LEXINGTON and YORKTOWN, VF-2 lost another pair of fighters. While the squadron claimed 11 kills during the day, its carrier "Lady Lex" succumbed to torpedo damage. With their carrier gone, the "Flying Chiefs" of VF-2 were dis-established on 1 July 1942, but their legacy lived on. Several of Ramsey's pilots became aces in other squadrons, including future Commanding Officers Noel Gayler, Bill Eder, and Scoop Vorse.

I think this is a VF2 plane

And it's restored in O'Hare airport somewhere in a Terminal.



On 20 February 1942 Edward “Butch” O’Hare became the Navy's first flying ace when he single-handedly attacked a formation of 9 heavy bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he managed to shoot down or damage several enemy bombers. On 21 April 1942 he became the first naval recipient of the US Medal of Honor in World War II.

And he flew with VF2:
Navy Cross citation
Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare (NSN: 0-78672), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), and deployed over Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, in action against enemy Japanese forces on 26 November 1943. When warnings were received of the approach of a large force of Japanese torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Commander O'Hare volunteered to lead a fighter section of aircraft from his carrier, the first time such a mission had been attempted at night, in order to intercept the attackers. He fearlessly led his three-plane group into combat against a large formation of hostile aircraft and assisted in shooting down two Japanese airplanes and dispersed the remainder. Lieutenant Commander O'Hare's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[45]

[rennwagen]

Great Information...Thanks!

[svandamme]

There is a lot of ambiguity about who was VFwhat at what time.

the designations swapped around a lot on those days and i think even the USN for some periods doesn't really know what was what VF.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_inactive_United_States_Navy_aircraft_squad rons#Disestablished_Fighter_(VF)_squadrons_and_VF_ designations_no_longer_in_use

But O'Hare was on Lex in February 20, 1942 and stayed there until he had to go on his promo tour for his Medal of Honor, early 42, just before the Lexington sank,


F4F-3A Wildcats flown by LCMDR. Thach (F-1) and Lt. O'Hare (F-13) during the aerial photography flight of April 11, 1942.


he was officially quoted as being in VF2 and he did have the Felix on his plane.
So that's a good indication.

[Jon B]

Incredible images.
It's fascinating to see the paint and markings on these planes so well preserved, 76 years later.

The Wildcat is an F4F-3 model, without folding wings. The open compartment behind the canopy held a life raft.
This is a very historic aircraft.



The other aircraft, pictured below, are Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers, as Scott suggested.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_TBD_Devastator

No surviving examples exist today, but a few remains have been located underwater.
Douglas TBD Devastators were eventually replaced by Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, which first saw service at Midway the following month.

[Jon B]

The fate of the USS Lexington, CV-2

October, 1941


May, 1942
Battle of the Coral Sea

Japanese bomb and torpedo hits.

216 crew killed.
2735 crew evacuated.

Scuttled by torpedoes from the American destroyer USS Phelps, DD-360.

[KNS]

Unfortunately the Navy won’t let anyone touch those aircraft or bring them up.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by KNS

Unfortunately the Navy won’t let anyone touch those aircraft or bring them up.

Tecnically, Airplanes are not ship wrecks so not the same protection applies.

Considering the individual planes might not be near the carrier itself
They would have drifted off in the wake, being light and all that while the Lex went down. And if the planes don't have remains in them.

Perhaps somebody at the Navy might see the historical significance and allow recovery and preservation.
Better the Navy does then some other party does it and then claim it's not a shipwreck.

Hell, even actual WW2 shipwrecks that are protected have been disappearing in that region of the world

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/nov/03/worlds-biggest-grave-robbery-asias-disappearing-ww2-shipwrecks

[onewhippedpuppy]

Really cool story, I love WW2 history.

[tabs]

I didn't know they lost it?


One of my uncle's was an aviation mechanic on the carriers joining up before ww2. One of the carriers he was on was the Enterprise.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by svandamme

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/nov/03/worlds-biggest-grave-robbery-asias-disappearing-ww2-shipwrecks

From the link:

The rusted 70-year-old wrecks are usually sold as scrap but the ships also contain valuable metals such as copper cables and phosphor bronze propellors.

Experts said grave diggers might be looking for even more precious treasures – steel plating made before the nuclear testing era, which filled the atmosphere with radiation. These submerged ships are one of the last sources of “low background steel”, virtually radiation-free and vital for some scientific and medical equipment.

Fascinating.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by tabs

I didn't know they lost it?

I thought you knew everything Tabs??

[Jon B]

The Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat F-5 has been identified as the plane flown by Albert "Scoop" Vorse Jr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_O._Vorse_Jr.

[svandamme]

Then that confirms VF-2 as well

[sammyg2]

2 miles deep.

[svandamme]

that's a long way down, but they've hauled stuff up from that deep before... Howard Hughes had a rig for that